Oh boy, just what you need, huh? A feral bit me in the same spot on my hand right before I bought this house 3 1/2 years ago and, honestly, I didn't even think about rabies. I don't know why; it just didn't occur to me. My hand swelled and bruised, the whole nine yards and I never did get any treatment for it. Now that you know that rabies shots aren't what they used to be, you can relax a little there and as for side effects, we'll just send up the prayers that you won't have any. Done.